Joint for artificial limbs



June. l12, 1923.'

'W. H. WAMBSGANS `)'OINT FOR ARTIFICIAL LIMBS -Filed June 27 1921 ,f/4.a@ @N atto: n e j PatentedJune 12, 1923.

TES

kWinnaar HWAMBsGAusf-or .rnomaannmers JOINT f T0 all wkome't may concern. f y H, WAMBs eaNs, a citizen of the lUnited States, residing Peoria`, in the county of Peoria and State l of Illinois, have invented certain neviT land useful Improvements nfdoints for Artificial Limbs; and I do hereby deelare that the follbxying is a full, Clear, and exaothdeseription of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the `art to which' appert'ains to'make and use the sama V'.Fhis invention relates toA artifieial limbs,

`,pertaining moreA particularly to a 'joint for theparts of the.V same, and 'more especially fllxieohject of the invention is that :of providing a thoroughly strongandstauneh `connection'between' theparts of an artificial `linibpone that will 1operate freely vand that e 'will not erealrorsqueak as occurs in-.many lJoints as usually Constructed.

' 'T the endt hatmy inv nt'on may be thoroughly understood', I have providedthe:ae-

" Figurelv shoivs vertical tion of,v an l artificial `limb with fmy invention applied thereto as an ankle joint.k l l Figure 2 is a vertical laterali seetion of the saine.

Figure 3v is a longitudinal vertical section of a form of joint of my invention.

Figure 4 is a side elevation thereof. Figure 5 is alongitudinal verticalsection of a slightly modified form ofjoint.

Figure 6 is a sideelevation of the same. Figure 7 bearing shown in Figure 5, and Figure 8 is a sideelevation of a coned member adapted to cooperate with the conel in Figure 4.

My invention is shown in connection WithV the ankle portion of anartifioial limb shownv in. Figure 1, wherein 1 is a leg portion and 2, a foot portion. y

In one of its forms, the joint eomprisestvvo tubular portions 3, 4 each having at one enda {iange designated by 5l and 6, each hav-l ing a ball race 7 and 8 respeetive'ly,the races lying in a plane perpendicular to the Vaxis of the said portions. Lying between the flanges is a member 9 having arball race in opposite faces corresponding in position to the ball races of said flanges` there being a series of balls 11 disposed inthe annular cavities thus provided.

The member 9 is extended into a stem shows, in perspective, a coneV 'said me bere bored out, aan this theretei bushing .13, the position of .the holes, V15,",16

being Snell, with respeettoone aniti'that upronfthef halls 11,. The rods extend .th r9uelf1y apvrtonlf `'the vvorking surface 'pbet'ween the v` memberf-S) and the latten In'Figure 5, tWo tubular portions 20, 21"

correspond with the portions 3, 4. Each lhas aflange atone end as before which, 'hoWever, have 'a ooned form designated at 22, vand these, as` with the portions 3' and '4, j may preferably be of hardened steel.y 23 and 24 are two rings of a'metal different v from that oftheV cones 22. These-lie back to duet v19 enten s into onevendy of the 85 Y* l ,nella shown-11,11 land receive nuts 18.;A

back whiletheir outer sideshave coned re-v y cesses {providing-seats of a' form correspond-V ing in shape to. and adaptedto receive the i l cones 22,;the dissimilar metals preventing squeaking of the partsin use.`

25 isa bodyportion correspondingsomel what to the member 9 described,`but which is boredto receive the rings 23,' 24 and hold them in a driving fit, said member being exl tended into a stem 26 as inthe other form described 27 is a bushing l in and' snuglyv ts. the portions 20,21 and the rings 23, 24, the latter turning thereonA While the said portions 2O and 21 aresecured K with respect'to it by rods 28 servingthe l i same'purposeas the rods 14, 15. Again, as

hieh, as before,liesUWithi l The structures illustrated provide for av joint or' light Weight, yet thoroughly strong, and one tliat'can be kept withinv small dimensions, While at the middle portion, between the rods ll, l5 and'28, the parts can Abe"enlarged,and so arranged that in addition to the snug Working oint between the bushings and the lcentrali parts having the stems 1G, 26, the ball races of one form, or the cones of rthe other, form bearings which lie in planes perpendicular to thesaid joint between the bushing and said parts, lending ,Y great yrigidity and a more freely yWorking 'aiiair besides ypreventing lateral strains With accompanying tendency to 'squeaks ln the one form, the balls take the lateral strains and prevent sqiieaking, While `in the other, the cones 22 and the dissimilar metal :ofthe rings 23 and 2li act in the same capacity.

I claim: i l M Y n l. .In an ankle joint, the combination With lthe ankle and ootmembers of an artificial l limb, or a pair of tubular members disposed in axial alignment and lying transversely of :and between the said members, said tubular members having spaced relation, a solid main body portion enclosed by the tubular members, a pair -of stems 'depending from the said ankle member, eachvpassing through one yof theisaid tubular members and both extending into the main body portion perpendicular to the axes of those parts, said stemsv permanently spacing apart the said tubular members, anda stem arising from the foot member, the same enclosing the' mainV bodyY portiony and adapted to turn upon it and having a Working position betiveen the facing ends of the said spaced ltubular members.

y 2. In an ankle joint, the combination with the ankle and foot members of an artilicial limb, vof a pair of tubular members disposed in axial alignment and lying transversely of and between the said members,

said tubular members having spaced relation, a soiid main body portion enclosed by the tubular members, a pair of stems depending from the said ankle member, each passing through one of the said tubular members and both extending into the main body portion perpendicular to the axes of'those parts, said stems permanently spacing apart the said tubular members, a stein arising from the foot member, the same enclosing the main body portion between thetubulai members and adapted to turn upon it and having a working position between the fac ing ends of said tubular members, and antifriction devices interposed between the said Aracing ends of the tubular members and said stem Where it encloses the main body portion.

In testimony Whereof I aiiixmy signature,

in presence oftwo Witnesses. n v W'ILLIAM H. WAMBSGANS. lVitnesses:

J. H. KINGSBURY, LKM. THUnLoW, 

